Cut Business Costs to Boost Your Bottom Line

If you’re looking for one quick fix for cutting costs, you’re in for a rude awakening. There is rarely one single idea that will radically change the cost structure of your business. Instead, it will require many small, smart changes to see a reduction in overhead. Even if your business is profitable, runaway expenses can eat into your bottom line. Here are 5 ways to cut your costs:

1) Audit

The first step to cutting business expenses is to do an internal audit, to find out where money is being spent and why. This will give you a clear picture of the financial state of your business and will show areas of waste or overindulgence.

2) Ship Smarter

Are you constantly at the post office, shipping parcels and probably paying extra for large or heavy shipments? If you can consolidate your shipping you’ll save significantly. Shipping with an LTL Rate Shopper allows you to compare rates and find the best carrier for your business. Using an experienced freight broker or truckload management service essentially does the work for you, which is a huge relief for most business owners, both financially and professionally.

3) Control Miscellaneous Spending

Are you planning on painting your office, buying new equipment, or hiring additional employees? If you’ve noticed excessive spending in your company, you need to put a pin in that. Another crucial question to ask yourself is this: Who has buying power in your business? Your financial information should only be in the hands of a trusted few. This will significantly decrease the amount of unnecessary spending on the part of employees. Expenses should be closely monitored and purchases should be scrutinized before approval.

4) Automate

Automating business processes isn’t replacing humans with computers, as many employees fear. Instead, it’s a way by which companies eliminate the complex, redundant steps from their processes and streamline them for simplicity. Automating enables employees to focus their efforts on tasks that will prove more beneficial to the business. Automation also increases accountability. Jim from sales can’t say he didn’t get that email if it was shared with the entire team.

5) Consider Remote Employees

The traditional workplace has shifted in recent years. Employees are working from home more than ever and for good reason. Remote employees mean that there’s no reason to lease a big office. Even a semi-remote staff does not require the space a large staff does. If your employees could do their jobs anywhere with an internet connection, why not let them? It’s been shown to boost efficiency and productivity and is a great perk for good employees that need a more flexible schedule.

Consider the Impact

Before you implement your changes, it’s important to consider the impact. The organizational disruption caused by your expense reductions is usually proportional to the number of cuts you make. Be sure to tailor cutbacks to your savings goal and current workforce. This is easier to do with smaller changes, but bigger cuts will cause more significant disruptions, so plan accordingly.

Smart Business

Smart business cuts should include employee feedback. It’s one of the most overlooked methods of radically cutting costs, without compromising the business in any way. Seeking guidance from your team also informs them on the need to cut waste, for the bottom line of the business and the security of their jobs.

Contact Us to learn more about smart shipping solutions for your business.